Backup dancer

A backup dancer also known as background dancer[1] is a performer who dances with or behind the lead performers in a live musical act or in a music video. Their movements (especially where there are many moving together) provide a visual symmetry and rhythm to accompany the music.

A backup dancer

Backup dancers

Some notable performers began their music careers as backup dancers for other artists, including:

Events

United States
Katy Perry performing with the dancing sharks backup dancers during the performance of "Teenage Dream" at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show

On 25 February 2015, a backup dancer performing with Madonna at the Brit Awards accidentally pulled Madonna backwards down a small flight of stairs when performing an act that involved pulling a cape off of Madonna's neck.[11] Madonna quickly recovered and continued with the show, and later attributed the accident to the cape being tied too tightly.[11]

At the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show on 1 February 2015, backup dancers dressed in shark costumes accompanied Katy Perry as she performed.[12]

In September 2014, three backup dancers for Cher sued the performer for wrongful termination based upon allegations of racial discrimination.[13][14] At the time, Cher's publicist denied any wrongdoing, stating that "the accusations are ridiculous" and that "they couldn’t be further from the truth".[13] In the lawsuit, it was stated that the dancers were informed that the firing occurred to "save costs on the tour".[13] The lawsuit sought over $10 million in damages.[13]

  • Balinese dancers in 1937 performing in a kecak

See also


References
  1. Storr, Will (5 June 2011). "The truth about life as a background dancer". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  2. "Watch: Stray Kids' Lee Know Talks About Being BTS's Back-Up Dancer + Shows His Part In "Not Today" Performance". Soompi. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  3. Schwarz, Hunter (26 April 2014). "Kevin Federline Was A Backup Dancer In A Justin Timberlake Music Video". Buzzfeed. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  4. Battan, Carrie (22 July 2014). "Interviews: FKA twigs". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  5. "Cris Judd Talks Jennifer Lopez Marriage: "You're No Longer a Normal Person"". Us Weekly. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  6. "Pop star Rain (Bi), reaching out beyond Asia". KBS Global. Archived from the original on 25 January 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2007.
  7. Tupac Shakur – Thug Angel (The Life of an Outlaw). 2002.
  8. "Tupac Shakur". Hotshotdigital.com. Archived from the original on 13 January 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  9. Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 330.
  10. "From Backup Dancer To 'The Wire': How A Scar Transformed A Career". NPR. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  11. Almasy, Steve (25 February 2015). "Madonna falls at Brit Awards; Twitter's got jokes". CNN. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  12. Malec, Brett (2 February 2015). "See the Sexy Backup Dancer Who Was Katy Perry's Super Bowl Shark". E!. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  13. Gorenstein, Colin (18 September 2014). "Backup dancers sue Cher for alleged discrimination". Salon. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  14. The Associated Press (18 September 2014). "Backup dancers sue Cher for alleged discrimination". Lebanon Daily News. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.

Further reading
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